The Death of Socrates
Jacques-Louis David · 1787
Why it's great
The ancient Greek thinker Socrates was sentenced to drink poison, and David shows him calmly raising a finger to make one last point while friends weep around him. The clear, sculpture-like figures and calm lighting made it a model of Neoclassical painting. It is famous because it makes a big idea — standing up for your beliefs, even at great cost — feel real and powerful.
🏛️ Part of history
Classical Greece: From Marathon to Socrates (490–399 BC) — Socrates, sentenced by Athens in 399 BC, calmly reaches for the cup of poison while his friends fall apart.
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris and became the greatest painter of the Neoclassical style, inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. He supported the French Revolution and later became Napoleon's official painter. After Napoleon fell, he was forced into exile and spent his last years in Brussels, Belgium. He taught many famous students and shaped French art for generations.
